Hamilton beaten by a cyclist
Hamilton beaten by a cyclist
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Derek Smith

Original Poster:

49,748 posts

277 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
I believe that Lewis is the first British WDC not to be voted sports personality of the year and, to make matters worse, he was beaten to the crown by a cyclist. And this after one of the most thrilling seasons – Valencia excepted – I can remember. Only Hunt’s last race thriller can be seen in the same league.

Sp why didn’t Lewis get the vote?

Is it the lad’s colour? One can hope that it isn’t but I accept that for some voting racially is the done thing.

It can’t be coverage as, according to the early viewing figures, which must be spot on as they come from Bernie’s organisation, more people saw this year’s championship than ever before. Taken as a whole the season was riveting.

My opinion?

The effect of Spa on my feelings towards F1 was a surprise to me. It felt like being let down by a friend. And in talking with friends we came up with other examples of what we thought was a lack of impartiality towards Lewis. But I feel sure that this would have had little effect of the total votes for Lewis. So what could have turned so many people against F1’s champion?

Last season friends who are not that interested in F1 (normally husbands of friends of my wife) had opinions about Stepneygate. They’d heard of it and felt it showed that the sport was corrupt.

Then, of course, came Orgygate.

Here’s a selection of headlines, courtesy of www.f1ramblings.co.uk:

Max Mosley faces calls to quit as Formula One chief after ‘Nazi - Timesonline.co.uk

MI5 linked to Max Mosley sex scandal . . . “Nazi-style orgy” - Timesonline.co.uk

Mosley wins court case over orgy - news.bbc.co.uk

Formula One boss Max Mosley 'exposed as sadomasochist in Nazi orgy - dailymail.co.uk

Max Mosley beaten until blood was drawn in S and M session - telegraph.co.uk

Max Mosley loses battle to get sex video off web . . . of him and five prostitutes - theregister.co.uk

Max Mosley case: A spanking good spectacle - telegraph.co.uk

F1 boss Max Mosley's Nazi sex video . . . F1 boss Max Mosley's Nazi sex video . . . F1 Boss Max Mosley Caught With Five Hookers In Nazi Orgy Video - current.com

disgraced Max Mosley . . . son of odious Blackshirt leader and Hitler sympathiser Oswald Mosley, was filmed in a sordid sex orgy mimicking a Nazi death camp. - dailymail.co.uk

Aryan doesn't mean Nazi . . . Max Mosley said in court today that the word 'Aryan' should not be equated with Nazism. - guardian.co.uk

FIA President Max Mosley. - vee8.doctorvee.co.uk

Mosley's S&M sex session with five vice girls 'was no Carry On . . . Mosley's sadomasochistic session with five prostitutes - news.scotsman.com

Max Mosley's Dominatrix . . . who exposed Max Mosley's love of sado-masochistic sex to the world - news.sky.com

Max Mosley: I’m hooked on S&M sex orgies . . admitted to a court he was hooked on kinky sex – but insisted Nazis were a turn-off. - thesun.co.uk

Mosley 'was set up by Formula One enemies' . . . whose role in a sado-masochistic sex orgy - independent.co.uk

We get a series of headlines in papers with an international following, plus the Sun, and the words sadomasochistic, sex, orgy, nazi, vice, prostitutes, death camp, kinky, sex video, F1, F1, F1, president, F1.

Vote for Hamilton, you know the bloke who works for that bloke who likes beating women.

There can be little doubt that Mosley’s behaviour has hit the image of our sport. It’s corrupt and run by a man whose sexual and political leaning are offensive. And the backlash has hit Lewis.

Not winning SPotY is no big deal for Lewis. I didn’t even watch the program. But what it does show is that the most marketable asset that F1 has, its image, has been hit, and hit badly. And it must be down to the bloke in charge.

patmahe

5,919 posts

233 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
It wasn't a vote against Hamilton it was a vote for Hoy, his achievments are outstanding too. Both were judged on their merits and Hoys achievements were deemed to be more worthy of the award, simple as that really. Not everything is a conspiracy against the chap.



Edited by patmahe on Monday 15th December 08:59

heebeegeetee

30,142 posts

277 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Derek Smith said:
Sp why didn’t Lewis get the vote?
Because it's an olympic year, and not only that it's been our most successful olympics in living memory. I would have liked to have seen lewis win it, but the olympians only get a chance to shine every 4 years, so i really think it should have gone to one of them.


Alex

9,978 posts

313 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Hamilton will have his chance again. I think the voting public were acknowledging that.

I think Calzaghe should have won it.

Munter

31,331 posts

270 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Hamilton will get what 10 or 15 chances to win the champ again. Hoy will be lucky to compete in 2 or 3 Olympics. Hamilton is bound to pick it up at some point.

heebeegeetee

30,142 posts

277 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Weren't he tiny though, compared to the other sportspersons? Typical racing whippet, eh?

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
not just "a cyclist" but a guy who has been at the top of the sport for the last six years, rather than two...

put it this way, including the heats, Hoy compteted in 18 races in Beijing, he won 18. Hamilton won 5 races throughout the year... it really annoys me how motorsport fans can be so blinkered with their respoect of other sports.


JonRB

80,038 posts

301 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
patmahe said:
It wasn't a vote against Hamilton it was a vote for Hoy, his achievments are outstanding too. Both were judged on their merits and Hoys achievements were deemed to be more worthy of the award, simple as that really. Not everything is a conspiracy against the chap.
I agree. And, further, Hoy was representing his country whereas Lewis, let's be fair here, is a Brit who drives for an ostensibly British team founded by a Kiwi and bankrolled by a German car manufacturer.

I have immense respect for Lewis and think he's the best driver this country has seen for many, many a year. But I think it would be an enormous shame if the man who brought home three Gold Medals for this country at the last Olympics wasn't recognised for it.

zac510

5,546 posts

235 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Hoy was very worthy I think. Only gets a chance to be in the spotlight once every 4 years and he blitzed it.
Hamilton will get a chance next year and years after that.

My housemate proposed that the Scots patriotically voted Hoy in while the English all couldn't be bothered to vote!

Adrian W

15,496 posts

257 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Listening to LBC this morning, they were saying that there is a row and a lot of people (who know) say it was a fix and are calling for an investigation, then in the next breath the were waffling on about some dancing program.

matt frost

783 posts

280 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
I am glad it went to Hoy. As others have said Hamilton will have plenty more chances, and although Hamilton does in a way, he doesn't properly represent the UK whereas Hoy does.

I also think Hoy's achievements at this Olympics were fantastic. He absolutely was in a different league to the rest of the world and was a joy to watch.

Its also good as Hoy is alot less known than Hamilton, especially before the Olympics (I didn't know who he was before this I admit) and so its great to see someone who isn't in the public eye so much, get some more recognition for his efforts, achievements and talents.

Cara Van Man

29,977 posts

280 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
What made me laugh was Lewis standing next to that blonde hulk. rofl

He looked about 6 years old.

zac510

5,546 posts

235 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
matt frost said:
Its also good as Hoy is alot less known than Hamilton, especially before the Olympics (I didn't know who he was before this I admit) and so its great to see someone who isn't in the public eye so much, get some more recognition for his efforts, achievements and talents.
4 cyclists nominated, a good year for cycling indeed.

BobM

944 posts

284 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
I agree the award reflected Hoy's fantastic achievement rather than anything else but do wonder whether Lewis making himself a tax exile has done him any favours with the public? I know it got whipped up by the media when he won the WDC but it did seem to irritate a lot of people.

The Londoner

3,964 posts

267 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
I wish Lewis would drop the winking at the camera routine. The cheekie chappie act is a bit tiresome rolleyes

rude-boy

22,227 posts

262 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
I never expected LH to win this, second or third yes, but win never.

It was a good Olympic year for TEam GB so it was never really likely.

I would suggest that there were a fair few cyclists out there voting for Hoy.

Strangely Brown

15,722 posts

260 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
In case you hadn't noticed, the prize is for sports personality of the year, not sports achievement of the year.

Plug550

1,108 posts

244 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
WELL DONE LEWIS !

I thought he he looked truly chuffed to get second, and it was not a surprise to him that he was beaten at the post by an Olympian. He was chatty, gracious, and smiley. He did not look or act like some petulant child that had lost his teddy - how many other drivers would have taken the obvious knock back to his ego as well? Not many. So well done chap, you really shot up in my opinion, and many others as well I suspect.

trackdemon

13,422 posts

290 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
Strangely Brown said:
In case you hadn't noticed, the prize is for sports personality of the year, not sports achievement of the year.
In which case someone like Harry Redknapp should win?

motormania

1,143 posts

282 months

Monday 15th December 2008
quotequote all
You have to remember, the BBC televised the Olympics, while ITV shows F1. Even today, there are still a large number of people who probably have not watched F1 and are loyal to the BBC. With 6 Olympic stars in the top 10, it was bound to go Hoy's way.

Fully deserved.